Homeland security chief hails security efforts in Houston and state

Published: Saturday, February 23, 2002

Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP)  Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge on Friday praised the efforts of the nation's fourth-largest city, Harris County and the rest of Texas in being prepared to handle a terrorist attack.

Ridge was in Houston to learn about local and state plans for counteracting any sort of biological or chemical attack.

"This county, region, state is to be commended for the extraordinary work they have already done," Ridge said. "We're going to get this done with leadership at all levels. But it's going to start at the local level."

During a breakfast meeting sponsored by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Ridge listened as local and state officials informed him on their work to prepare for a possible terrorist attack.

S. Ward Casscells, vice president of biotechnology at the health science center, said the city has worked to be prepared since 1999, when the Houston Task Force on Terrorism was appointed by Mayor Lee Brown. As a part of that, a Houston Medical Strike Team was created to respond to deaths or injuries related to nuclear, biological or chemical agents.

"Your visit has energized us, led us to new ideas, new collaborations," Casscells told Ridge. "If Houston can serve as your flashlight or the tip of your spear, we will do our best."

The city's success has been in part due to communication and cooperation by various agencies, levels of government and the Texas Medical Center community, Brown said.

"I think all of Texas understands that by pulling together that's the only way we can solve this problem," said Texas Land Commissioner David Dewhurst, who is also chairman of the Texas Governor's Task Force on Homeland Security.

However, there is much work to be done, Dewhurst said, including doing a better job-sharing intelligence.

Dewhurst, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, also said improvement is needed in securing federal funding to support statewide efforts.

Those efforts include creation of hazardous materials teams to handle weapons of mass destruction.

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said one of the Houston area's most critical needs is the establishment of a $100 million radio communications system to link all law enforcement agencies in the county.

"Houston is still vulnerable," Casscells said.

Ridge said that since the Sept. 11 terrorist acts, cities and communities will have to continually review their efforts to prevent further attacks.

"I don't think we'll ever be at the point where we can say we've done everything possible to maximize our efforts," he said.

Bush is proposing to allocate $38 billion of the federal budget to Ridge's office.